Tammy had never seen her husband happier. When they had first reunited with Lizzy, she had feared that there might be tension between the adoptive and birth families, but her worries had been for naught. The families had integrated so well it was like they had always been one large family. Lizzy had started calling her Mother Tammy some months after she publicly added the title of‘Father’to Bennet. She understood the delay and would have been happy to continue on as Aunt Tammy, but her heart had swelled with happiness the first time Elizabeth had used the appellation.
The De Melvilles and the Ashbys departed for Surrey a week after Easter. Elizabeth and Georgiana felt bereft of Retta’s and especially Amy’s company after the latter had been with them for many months, though they were not allowed to wallow in their sorrow as they had the Bennets and Rhys-Davies with them yet.
Towards the end of April, the Bennets, Fitzwilliams, Rhys-Davies, and Darcys took their leave of Anne and Ian. The Bennets went to Hertfordshire and the other three families travelled north. It was the very day that a joyous Marie informed her husband that she had missed her courses for two consecutive months.
Chapter 13
June 1807
Will was finally home after he had completed his duty to his friend Charles Bingley. Elizabeth was looking forward to them establishing their prior routine of meeting once or twice a week to discuss a book, politics, or anything else that grabbed their attention.
It was getting close to the first celebration of her joining the family that was not celebrated as her birthday.To differentiate it from her actual birthday, Marie and her mama had planned a family celebration without chocolate cake. There would be a festive meal at Snowhaven, followed by an array of Elizabeth’s other favourite desserts, which would include a chocolate pudding to placate any disappointment Elizabeth may have at not having her favourite cake served.
Although she was looking forward to the celebration with glee, Elizabeth felt a tinge of sadness. She had noticed recently that Aggie had started to slow down. She was approaching her eighth year, and as much as she did not want to think about it, she remembered her father explaining to her before she chose Aggie that large dogs like Great Danes seldom lived past the age of ten. Though in truth, all knew Aggie had chosen her. Being prepared was helpful, but it would not make it any less sad when that day eventually arrived.
There had been an extremely good piece of news shared a sennight before. Elizabeth thought back to that afternoon and the pleasurable thoughts drove the maudlin ones about Aggie’s mortality to the recesses of her mind, for now.
Andrew and Marie had requested that their mother and Lizzy join them in their private sitting room. Marie, who was glowing with happiness, nodded to Andrew.“This morning Marie felt the quickening. We had suspected for some time that Marie is with child, but we wanted to wait to make an announcement until it was felt.”
“How can you have a family meeting without me?” came from the doorway, where Richard stood in his regimentals.
“Itch!” Elizabeth exclaimed and launched herself at her brother, who she had not seen for months. Even at sixteen, she welcomed Richard in the same boisterous manner that she had for many years.
“Andrew!” admonished his mother,“did you omit to tell us that your brother would be home today, or at all?”
“It may have slipped my mind, mother,” Andrew hedged, sporting a big grin and happy he had surprised his mother and Lizzy.
“I told Andrew he should have informed you two, but you know how my husband likes surprises,” Marie smiled at the man who she loved.
“It sounds like I am to be an uncle, sister; did I hear correctly?” Richard smiled at his newest sister.
“Yes, Itch, you did hear what Marie said, for I am to be an aunt!” Elizabeth answered happily.
“And that will give me the title of grandmother,” Elaine sighed. She was overjoyed at the news, but there was a touch of sadness that her beloved Reggie was not there to share in the wonder of their first grandchild, who would possibly be the new Lord Hilldale. Richard saw the look on his mother’s face and hugged her.
“Papa would have loved to be a grandfather,” he agreed softly next to her ear. Elaine was choked up so could not answer; she just nodded her head as she hugged him in return.
“Has your state been confirmed, Marie?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes, Dr. Gravelle saw me after we returned from Rosings. It was confirmed then, and he agreed all was going well. Before you ask, I sent an express to Longview Meadows just before Andrew and I requested that you join us.”
Elizabeth was snapped out of her reverie as she heard the sound of carriages on the drive. She made her way towards the entrance with all speed as Jane, Perry, and Aunt Rose had just arrived.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Jones had taken Branch into his confidence a few weeks earlier. He had explained that he was just reporting some benign movements of the family to one who had enlisted his help and was hoping to have an‘unintentional’meeting and present an investment opportunity. Branch had played the part very well, acting as if this was the first time he was made aware of Jones’additional employment. Branch had agreed to provide him the‘harmless’information about the family’s travel plans and had convinced Jones to allow him to carry the fortnightly notes to place in the hiding place in the chestnut tree on the green at Kympton.
After what Jones believed was Branch’s first task in his plan, he quizzed him to make sure that he had placed the note as he had instructed and returned the cover to its place to hide the knothole. Once Jones was satisfied, he relaxed and was pleased that he was saved from having to ride all the way there and back when he was running out of excuses and that he had an ally who would help for less than one-third of what he was being paid for the job.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mrs Fitzpatrick’s anticipation was beginning to build. She could not grab the newest note from her secret spy fast enough when the footman delivered it.
One quarter of the out riders now discharged. No major travel until next Easter. Family not going to Rosings but lake district. Will notify once the route is decided.
Her mouth started to water. This was it. In less than nine months she would show them all. She decided that it was time to start recruiting those whose silence could be bought regardless of the activities they did. She estimated, based on the fact that by then there would only be two outriders per carriage, that she would need twenty men to whom she would offer one hundred pounds each. She smiled to herself. She would save one hundred pounds by paying one less and sending Wickham as part of the group.
The road from either Pemberley or Snowhaven to the lakes was rarely travelled, and she knew the ideal spot. About ten miles past the point where the roads from the two estates met, it entered a heavily wooded forest and there was a bend where the road ahead was invisible. She would have her men block the path there and then take the carriages. It would look like a highwaymen holdup gone wrong when the bodies were discovered. In addition to their pay, she would allow the men to take anything of value from the bodies and coaches.
